Rome Travel Guide

Mistreated Tourists Get Royal Treatment By Italian Government

Italy has something of a reputation amongst travelers as being rife with opportunists seeking to exploit visitors, but it's a reputation that's clearly unwarranted if this encounter in Rome is any indication. After being charged an exorbitant 64 euros for 4 ice creams, city officials did their all to make up for the affront, providing the traveling group near-royal accommodations, free of charge.

Roger Bannister, his brother Stephen and their wives Wendy and Joyce were given an almost rock star welcome when they arrived back in the capital, two weeks after shelling out 64 euros for the ice creams at a gelateria near the Spanish Steps.

The group, from Dudley in the West Midlands, admitted to being bewildered by all the attention, after being greeted at Leonardo da Vinci airport by tourism officials and a Carabinieri officer in full dress uniform.

They were whisked through a channel normally reserved for VIPs and diplomats and did not have to show their passports.